How To Use Clorox To Drain A Clogged Tub

I'll admit it. My ability to keep up with household chores is on par with that of a dead mouse. My philosophy being that if it is barely working, don't fix it. But recently my tub stopped up and I had no money to call a plumber. The method below worked for me and may work for you, but please read the thoughtful disclaimer.

DISCLIAMER: I am not a certified plumber. This method combines two of my loving aunty's rather annoying, er, I mean extremely helpful ideas into one useful kit and kaboodle. Never use any household product in a manner not suggested in the bottle, never try spa baths in your own home if you don't want to clean the God awful mess out of your tub I did.

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Clorox is gentle enough to use in diluted forms as baths for certain skin ailments, but I use it for everything else under the sun. One bottle replaces harsh and hazardous drain cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners, bathroom cleaners, you get the picture.

Just wear gloves and old clothes and spot test surfaces for color fastness as you clean. I orders six bottles, two each for the areas I clean most often.

Cleaning the Clogged Tub

You'll Need:

Hot Water

A plunger

Clorox Bleach

Please note: This method only works if you have already plunged the drain to the point where water drains, however slowly. If it refuses to drain at all I suggest Draino or another powerful cleaner. The drain was taking several hours to drain a full tub at the time the method was used. After it drained in under three minutes.

1. Once the tub is drained pour one cup steaming hot water into the drain. My stopper will not come out, so I just kept it open and poured around it. Plunge. Clean up any debris that comes up, and be warned it will not smell pretty. This step will take a while to drain.
2. Pour in Clorox, about one cup, let stand five to fifteen minutes. Plunge again, cleaning up any debris, let drain. Try to ignore the smell. Now you know why plumbers charge so much, don't you?
3. Pour in one cup steaming hot water to flush to Clorox from your pipes. DO NOT skip this step. You don't want the Clorox sitting in your pipes. Plunge if needed, let drain.
4. Several hours later, repeat steps one through three, plunging if needed. The water on the last step should drain quickly. You might smell a soap smell as any soap clogging your pipes is melted away by the hot water and Clorox. You'll know it worked if your tub roars like thunder the next time it drains. I hadn't heard that sound in years!

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